24 November 2008

Alan Colmes To Leave FNC's Hannity & Colmes Show

*** THIS STORY FIRST BROKEN AT THE RADIO EQUALIZER ****** UPDATED AGAIN BELOW ****** SOURCE: HANNITY TO GO SOLO - SEE BELOW ***

After a remarkable twelve year run, Alan Colmes is set to leave FOX News Channel's top-rated Hannity & Colmes at the end of the year, according to key sources.

Though the decision was said to have been made by Colmes himself, it is not yet known what future role he will play at the network.

There have been no industry rumblings regarding the liberal host heading for another network and his radio show remains syndicated by FOX News Radio. That means he's probably likely to remain there in some capacity.

Also unknown at this time is who will replace take Alan's place at the Hannity & Colmes Show, if anyone.

So far, Colmes has not commented on the move at his site, but syndicated talker Lars Larson tells your Radio Equalizer that he's asked Colmes to appear on his show to discuss the situation.

Update: rather than comment, Colmes is simply referring readers to the Fox press release reprinted below.

The former WABC and WNBC/ New York talker has been with FOX News since its launch in October 1996.

In addition, industry speculation centers around the idea that perhaps Hannity may begin to host the program alone, an idea that has come up in the past. There's no indication of a replacement named at this time.

FOX News Channel's (FNC) Alan Colmes will relinquish his role as co-host of Hannity & Colmes at the end of the year.

In announcing his decision, Colmes said, "I approached Bill Shine (FNC's Senior Vice President of Programming) earlier this year about wanting to move on after 12 years to develop new and challenging ways to contribute to the growth of the network. Although it's bittersweet to leave one of the longest marriages on cable news, I'm proud that both Sean (Hannity) and I remained unharmed after sitting side by side, night after night for so many years."

Colmes will continue to have a presence on FNC as he will serve as a liberal commentator on a variety of FOX News programming, including Foxnews.com's The Strategy Room and continue hosting his radio program, The Alan Colmes Show on FOX Talk, a division of FOX News Radio. He will also begin developing a weekend program.

Shine said, "We're very sorry to see Alan reach this decision but we understand his desire to seek other creative challenges in his career. We value his incredible hard work in making Hannity & Colmes the most successful debate program on cable news and we're going to miss him on the show. Thankfully, he will begin developing a weekend pilot for us."

FOX News Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Roger Ailes added, "Alan is one of the key reasons why FOX News has been such a remarkable success. We're sad to see him leave the program but we look forward to his ongoing contributions to the network."

Hannity & Colmes is the only FNC program which has remained in the same timeslot for 12 years, catapulting to number one in 2003 and never relinquishing the top spot. The second highest-rated program in cable news behind only The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes averaged 3.3 million viewers nightly for the Nielsen month of October and is poised to mark 60 consecutive months at number one at the end of November.

Hannity added, "Not only has Alan been a remarkable co-host, he's been a great friend which is rare in this industry.” I'll genuinely miss sparring with such a skillful debate partner."

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour general news service covering breaking news as well as political, entertainment and business news. For nearly seven years, FNC has been the most watched cable news channel in the nation. Owned by News Corp., FNC is available in more than 90 million homes.

Colmes began his career in stand-up comedy.[1] He developed his radio career in the Northeast, eventually working at stations like WABC, WNBC, WHN and WEVD in New York and WZLX in Boston.

He is syndicated nationally, starting with his involvement with Daynet, a venture created by Colmes and other regional radio hosts. Daynet was sold to Major Networks, Inc., in 1994. Colmes kept his own show, which is now distributed by Fox News Radio.[2] His radio career took off when WABC hired him for the morning drive time slot, billed as, "W. Alan B. Colmes," as in the station's call sign. When WNBC let its staff go in 1988, Colmes was the final radio personality to sign off, doing so with the words: "I'm Alan Colmes. Thank you, God bless you, and for the last time, this is 66 WNBC." He was well-known in New York City when he was hired by Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, in 1996. Since then, he has been the co-host of Hannity and Colmes, beginning with the Fox News Channel launch on October 6, 1996.

Colmes has written one book, Red, White & Liberal: How Left is Right and Right is Wrong (ISBN 0-06-056297-8) which was published in October 2003.

On November 24, 2008, it was reported by Brian Maloney on his Radio Equalizer blog that Colmes would leave Hannity and Colmes.[3] It is unclear what role Colmes will have at Fox News or who, if anyone, will replace him on the primetime program.

27 Comments:

It is about time. A few weeks ago I commented on Alan Colme's "Liberaland" blog, demanding that he gain some self-respect and stop being FOXNew's conservative puppet on Sean Hannity's show. He was purposely valued on that show only because he was less telegenic and looked weaker than Sean Hannity. This, in effect, made liberalism look like a joke compared to conservatism. I consider my self more a conservative, but I couldn't stand watching Colmes be made a mockery of by a radical neo-con like Hannity. I applaud him for standing up and making the right choice.

Thank God I don't have to look at that idiot any longer. It was getting to be impossible to watch "the man" Hannity with that goofball liberal sitting next to him much longer. I literally cannot stand him and glad he is gone.. Don't let the door hit you!Sincerely, Beth in Maryland

The only voice of reason on that show... and he has left. Thank goodness, now I dont need to listen to the talking points that Sean Hannity spews. Neo-con that he is!Congratulations to Alan for finally making the move. Will look forward to a TV show of his own.

I rarely agreed with Alan, but I always appreciated the fact that he actually believed in using logic and debate when arguing with conservatives. Those are traits you will never, ever hear at Air America or Nova M. Best of luck to you, Alan. You will be missed.

I love both Hannity & Colmes. Just because I am a conservative Repub. is no reason to dislike Alan. I think he was extremely funny and clever and wish him well wherever he goes. He and Sean made a good team. They were great together. I always understood they were good friends. Alan may have been given an offer he couldn't refuse. Long live Hannity and the best of luck to Alan! You guys had a great show!

I will miss Alan's TV appearances with Sean. His role on H&C is difficult and I often felt he had to strain to appear a liberal foil to Hannity's conservatism. Together, H&C became the great TV show it is today. I've enjoyed Alan's radio show as well as Sean's, and I'm just thankful both will continue on in their separate roles.

This is the best thing that could of happened as I get sick just watching the smug attitude Colmes like so many left wingers have. He also does not know how to keep his facts straight which is typical of the liberals. I often turned off H&C because Colmes was so sickening.

I am glad to see the moron go. I had to stop watching the show, Colmes' interrogations and absolutely moronic comments were too much to bear. It is always interesting to hear the liberal side of an argument but Colmes was not a Liberal thinker, just a moron. Beckel or Powers present the Liberal view with some thought. They occasionally discuss more than just the Dems talking points.

Hurrah! It pays to post on Hannity's blog. Colmes does not possess debate skills but prefers to obstruct any valid commentary at the end of every damn sentence. He'a a goofus--the epitome of what a human GRINCH would resemble. To replace him would be a joke. Hannity should not even try. If they do, I pray they don't put another bozo on there such as Laura Ingraham.

yet... liberalism has a mandate, you are irrelevant now cons.... Obama may be a centrist, but America did not vote for a centrist..... The election was the rejection of conservatism by the majority of America, and cons still don't get it

and who cares about Fox news, the cultists who watch it are a tiny sliver of America, and do not represent America in the least.

conservatism: a failed ideology, the retarded hold on to..

It is over cons..... SANE people HAVE a MANDATE. Conservatism is mocked, despised and firmly rejected by America.

The majority of people work for a living and conservatism is an ideolgoy that spits on workers, urinates of unions and favors the uber-wealthy

conservatism is officially DEAD. The only way the G.O.P will EVER win is if they abandon the Anti-worknig class conservatives from their party and become a populist pro-common people party again. The social conservatism did not kill the GOP, the Anti-Middle class, pro-rich sentiment KILLED the GOP.

When you trash unions, blame the fall of the auto industry on unions, blame the mortgage crisis on common folk, you LOSE the MAJORITY.... The audience the conservative pundit wish's to reach is the same common man , you freaks blame everything on

and you wonder why you lost. Bush is not why you lost, Obama is not why you lost either.

The Anti-common man sentiment is EXACTLY why conservatives have been rejected.

as far as the Associates degree barely educated idiot, Hannity, America hates Hannity, nothing but a RNC talking point reader, incapable of debate, incapable of a independent thought, a nasty, wniny little piggy. America hates that idiot. Alan did the right thing, abandon the freak show, the majority of Americans despise the right.......

America has moved soundly to the left, America is not "center-right". Obama is "center-right", America is solidly, pro-union, pro-worker, pro-socialized medicine. America has moved to the left.

This is what happens when you attack the commons.

Cons were sop pompous, so arrogant, thought the average person was so stupid, they would continue to support an ideology that seeks to destroy the common man.... America woke up, conservatives are public enemy #2, right behind Al Queda.

America is rejoicing that Coulter has her jaw wired shut incidentally

America looks upon you people as the retarded half of America, the people who support an ideology that wish's to destroy the same people who support it.

conservatism: the ideology for the elite and the filthy rich, has been rejected by patriots in all 50 states. McCain did not lose the election, CONSERVATISM has lost the election

I hope con radio lasts forever, the majority listen to it, to hear the enemy... Yes. conservatives are the enemy..

working people, are rejoicing over the end of the sick disease of conservatism

America hates conservatism, how does it feel to be the "moonbat radicals"?

While I don't agree with 99.9% of Mr. Colm's views, I do like his personality and I wish him well in all future endeavors. It is not necessary to shred the man for making a career choice.

More people simply need to agree to disagree. Civility seems to have gone by the wayside.

It is time to move forward and to be Americans and not Republicans or Democrats. I wish this system would be done away with. We only need one party; the American Party.

Remember how you felt on Sept. 12, 2001? We were all American Patriots. Flags on all the cars, people came together. No one cared if you were Rep. or Dem. We were proud to be Americans and we stood together as we mourned the fallen in the terrorist attack.

A house divided against itself cannot stand....So what are we seeing right now? The collapse of the house, in the biggest way in my lifetime thus far. Frightening.

Alan Colmes is the epitome of the snotty "New York" liberal who has always been nothing but contemptuous to his callers, a trait I do not admire. IMHO, he'd been trained well, as a result of coming up within a particular milieu, a distinct subculture of the 70s, but, even after all those years, one of those holdovers whom understanding never touched, who never seemed to be able to connect the dots.

He represented the pussification of the left, as opposed to the radicalism that we now see manifesting itself.

MOP you are living in a dream world. Americans do not support unions. 75% are for secret ballets this is why the lib’s are pushing the card check. This will allow unions to pressure workers thru intimidation.

MOP you are living in a dream world. Americans do not support unions. 75% are for secret ballets this is why the lib’s are pushing the card check. This will allow unions to pressure workers thru intimidation.

I don’t blame the mortgage crisis on common folks. I blame it on congress for pressuring banks to make bad loans. BAD LOANS to people who should not own a home.

Unlike you I tell the truth to make a point.

What a laugh. No life but same old lies. It must be hard to be such a loser.

A typical long winded liberal rant. Good riddance to the Weasel. He can ride the subway to his apartment and then tell me how Americans really live. I'm sure he will have great ratings like Air America. He is just like most liberals smug and if you don't agree then you are just clinging to your guns and religion. American views are not dead, Obama won using the liberal media and lies plus fixed elections. Hello ACORN

You are so out of touch with America it is astonishing. Americans support unions. Need proof? Next time a labor union is taking in apprentices (such as the plumbing union) take a look at the line that forms for an interview, the line is usually 14 blocks wrong and people will wait on line a full week just to get an interview for the union position. You have no clue, no clue in the slightest.

The waiting list for any union position is 10-15 years worth of names. Sure.... America hates unions, funny how the vast majority of workers would do almost anything to be in one.

Keep listening to Fox news.

Reciting lies about the "secret ballot" I see.... Unions do not need to intimidate workers to form a union, 9 out of 10 workers would sacrifice a limb of their own for the power of collective bargaining Ask any worker if they would like to be able to help determine their pay and benefits at their work-place. Ask anyone... 99.9% would want this ability, that is the ability you have in a union. You have a right to negotiate your salary, without a union you are at the will of ownership and upper management. You really are clueless. You are therefore the loser, not me, I have a grip, I have a clue. You recite what your masters tell you, Fox news. Fox news have been lying about the employee free choice act as well, it does not eliminate the secret ballot, it allows for a a choice either a secret ballot or open ballot. The open ballot stops ownership from intimidating pro-union workers. You have it all backwards. Typical of an Anti-American, Anti-worker conservative.

Why do you side against unions and the common man? Simple... your conservative masters instructed you. Limbaugh said "unions bad".... you nod your empty head in agreement.

You should be rejoicing, Pf1, Obama is a conservative, on every issue except abortion. Rejoice, big business controls our government, and Obama is another pro-business, Anti-worker scumbag. Look at his financial team, all scumbags, who you should embrace, especially Paul Volcker, an anti-union Reaganite.

Me the loser? I fully understand politics, world affairs and have an IQ higher than the current president and the next president.

I fully understand both political parties are against the common man, against workers and vehemently detest common folk. You are the loser, who still thinks voting "R" is somehow better than voting "D".

I just have fun watching simpletons (such as yourself) shriek in agony about Obama, who going by your Anti-worker beliefs you should embrace. You are the loser, not me. I have a grop, I have a clue, I have a master's degree, I understand the issues without simply cheerleading the side of the "D", such as you do with the "R".

You hate unions because your conservative masters told you to hate them. I support unions not because of liberal masters, but because I have seen the benefits to the worker from being in a union.

I will never work professionally in commercial radio. I refuse to cheer lead for a political party. I speak the simple truth.

Obama has proven himself 100% not to be a "socialist", all of your conservative masters told you he was a socialist...... The same conservative masters are telling you "unions bad" "unions destroyed the auto industry"... yet you still believe them.... Who is the loser? The one who let's his masters (who are proven liars) think for him, or the mas who thinks for himself?

PF1I obviously outclass you in the world of political ideas and thought. You have no ideas or thought. You recite exactly as you are told. I speak the TRUTH

Learn to think for yourself LOSER. I think for myself, so can you

and just to let you know, I did not vote for Obama...... I voted for a candidate that represents the people, I voted for a socialist.

I'm not a propaganda swallowing Democratic party hack, you are a propaganda swallowing Republican hack. Only a real traitor would be against the worker. When you fight against unions, you are Anti-worker, and since 90% of us Americans are workers, you are Anti-American

How could anyone be against poor Alan and his whining? He will do great on any TV network or radio show, on his own. They just need to give him his own nightly show, and at least 3 hours per day weekly. Then they will see how much this country loves the liberal leaning commentators. I am sure all of us will listen, unfailingly, and Alan will make a bundle for himself and any media he works for. Just look how successful "Air America" is (was?) !!! Unions too are great... every working person in the U.S. should belong to one. Eventually all employers will go bankrupt, and all of us will be out of a job. Then the filthy rich can pay us to lay around and do nothing, for pockets full on cash !Talk about great ideas! Can't miss with either of the above... everybody wins !